4-Methylaminorex
Riemann Zeta said:
Phenmetrazine is too hard to synthesize. It requires nor-ephedrine, which was banned in 2000. Same goes for 4-methylaminorex (4-MAX), which is why both are as rare as it gets in the drug world.
Since when did 4-methylaminorex become hard to synthesize?
Oh no, they banned some pills, we're screwed.. you must be kidding right?
Might I introduce you to the wonderful and exciting world of clandestine chemistry?
No pills, just lots of chems.
The notion that 4-MAR is a difficult synth compared with other drugs is a complete myth, quite a common one too, the same ill-advised statements being repeated over and over again all over these threads by people who actually have no clue what they are talking about.
The 4-MAR synth is a piece of cake. Noone uses highly toxic cyanogen bromide to make that anymore, anyone who thinks otherwise needs to get with the times or just has no clue, except they have proven themselves able, without even leaving their chair, to use an internet search engine to dredge up Eleusis's dated 4-MAR procedure. As for said procedure, every underground chemist knows isn't worth a dime btw. Its outdated, dangerous and of no use to anyone.
Printing off such internet "recipes" is hardly what one would call real research, the valuable chemical procedures are to be found in a good library, not in Erowid's Vaults.
Instead of cyanogen bromide, relatively nontoxic and easily made potassium cyanate is now used as part of a simple one pot synthesis (aka the famous 4-MAR Shake'n Bake synthesis) with very high yields.
In recent years underground chemists have developed new procedures, quite unlike most of the aforementioned obsolete & dangerous 4-MAR recipes floating around the web. Things have come along way in the last 10 years, clandestine chemists have made significant breakthoughs and I assure you the best procedures, NEVER get put on the web since doing so would mean swift controls placed on the precursors.
The main precursor for 4-MAR is still PPA (phenylpropanolamine), though synthesizing it is NOT exactly a great endeavour, and it makes absolutely no difference that PPA has been removed from cold remedies by the FDA !! That would only affect the reject good-for-nothing pill cooks, and is hardly going to affect the actual clandestine chemists who are the ones, aka "Bees" , doing all the work. The 4-MAR synth is a snap.
PPA can be made extremely easily from just benzaldehyde and l-alanine with 15% yield of PPA (akabori reaction), though low yielding it is a straight forward reaction and easy to do.
The best process that is used to synthesize PPA is almost exactly the same as that used to produce phenyl-2-nitropropene (phenyl-2-propanone precursor) except a slight variation (adding NaOH) in 2 simple process stages yields the PPA with 70% yields. So you can't say PPA is inaccessible !!!!!!!!!!!
The aforementioned phenyl-2-propanone precursor (phenyl-2-nitropropene) is produced by a reaction known as the "Knoevenagel Condensation" , which is the preferred route to large scale phenyl-2-propanone (#1 Meth & Amphetamine precursor). Especially for the big labs !
Which means of course.....: that if you are producing Meth, you are statistically most likely to be producing it from phenyl-2-propanone (& methylamine), which was probably produced via the Knoevenegal condensation (using benzaldehyde & nitroethane), which rather conveniently, is precisely the reaction thats extremely EASILY adapted to yield phenylpropanolamine (in 2 stages) instead of the phenyl-2-nitropropene !! The PPA variation is actually easier and requires cheaper chemicals than the phenyl-2-nitropropene route used for meth !
If you wont listen to me, go research the chemistry for yourself. Check out the PPA & ephedrine synth on Rhodium's page to get you started.
So, basically if they can make meth they can probably make PPA too, and without all the hassle of converting the phenyl-2-nitropropene to phenyl-2-propanone, or playing with listed methylamine with subsequent reduction of the schiff's base to form meth, etc etc etc
The workup from PPA to 4-MAR is so simple its stupid, literally. If you've acquired PPA, then you have 4-MAR. Compared to the work involved in producing the PPA, the conversion step(s) to 4-MAR (by comparison) requires neglible effort.
4-methylaminorex (freebase or salt) is actually easier, cheaper & quicker to produce than crystal methamphetamine.
The problem is, there just aren't large scale labs producing it since they are busy 24/7 producing meth.
Any mention of the 4-MAR synth being too difficult is pure fantasy, and I've read the same lie in no fewer than 10 separate posts just in the last hour while researching 4-MAR...
Such misinformation is rife.
Its all too tempting for a novice chemist to simply look at the oxazoline ring (without getting off his lazy butt and doing some actual research) within the 4-MAR molecule and talk all day about how difficult it is to produce due to the complexity of having to painstakingly "construct" the oxazoline ring, nonsense - its simple.
PPA & potassium cyanate (simple 2 hr reflux), followed by simple acid hydrolysis and Voila ! PPA to 4-methylaminorex, just like that. From start to finish, 4 hrs and can be scaled up to any size.
This ain't rocket science, so why all the confusion?
These procedures ARE actually on the web, if in any doubt go check them out for yourself.
The hive files are a good place to start.
4-MAR isn't hitting the streets in bulk for one simple reason: MONEY.
Nothing to do with the chemistry. Meth is what the junkies want, meth is what they shall have.
As for the most promising candidate for the stimulant of the future?
If all those presently operating the clandestine labs were to suddenly decide they can make more money from producing 4-MAR instead, they could be turning out the same weekly tonnage of 4-MAR within a short while if they really wanted to.
4-MAR is one hell of a drug, far more potent than meth, most would agree that overall its simply a superior drug, and it seems to be growing in popularity all the time.
I'm guessing that 4-MAR is here to stay
MODS: I've made every attempt to limit chem synthesis reference(s) as much as possible, synths mentioned are simply there to help clarify the logic in the point I'm trying to present. Plz feel free to edit/delete/ if/where necessary.
